Radar module, transport apparatus, and object detection method
This radar module is provided with: a transmission antenna; a reception antenna; a signal source for generating a transmission signal; a transmission unit for transmitting a transmission signal towards a target object through the transmission antenna; a reception unit for receiving, through the reception antenna, a reflected signal produced by reflection of the transmission signal from the target object; a signal processing unit for performing signal processing on the basis of a reception signal outputted by the reception unit; and an external interface for outputting information obtained by the signal processing unit. The signal processing unit calculates an average value and a variance value of the received power of the reception signal, and uses the calculated average value and variance value to identify the target object.
1. A radar module, comprising:
a transmission antenna;
a reception antenna;
a signal source configured to generate a transmission signal;
a transmission section configured to send the transmission signal to a target object through the transmission antenna;
a reception section configured to receive a reflection signal generated by reflection of the transmission signal on the target object through the reception antenna;
a signal processing section configured to perform signal processing based on a reception signal output from the reception section; and
an external interface configured to output information obtained at the signal processing section,
wherein the signal processing section:
calculates an average value and a variance value of a reception power of the reception signal,
detects the target object by use of the calculated average value and the calculated variance value,
performs a comparison using the variance value and a square of the average value, and
determines that the target object is a human when a determination index obtained by dividing the square of the average value by the variance value is smaller than a first reference value which is set to 1 or a value approximately equivalent to 1.
2. A radar module, comprising:
a transmission antenna;
a reception antenna;
a signal source configured to generate a transmission signal;
a transmission section configured to send the transmission signal to a target object through the transmission antenna;
a reception section configured to receive a reflection signal generated by reflection of the transmission signal on the target object through the reception antenna;
a signal processing section configured to perform signal processing based on a reception signal output from the reception section; and
an external interface configured to output information obtained at the signal processing section,
wherein the signal processing section:
calculates an average value and a variance value of a reception power of the reception signal,
detects the target object by use of the calculated average value and the calculated variance value,
performs a comparison using the variance value and a square of the average value, and
determines that the target object is a human when a determination index obtained by subtracting the variance value from the square of the average value is smaller than a second reference value which is set to 0 or a value approximately equivalent to 0.
3. A transport apparatus comprising:
a radar module; and
a safety driving support operation section configured to perform an operation for avoiding an unsafe situation or reducing a degree of the unsafe situation based on information output from the radar module,
the radar module including:
a transmission antenna;
a reception antenna;
a signal source configured to generate a transmission signal;
a transmission section configured to send the transmission signal to a target object through the transmission antenna;
a reception section configured to receive a reflection signal generated by reflection of the transmission signal on the target object through the reception antenna;
a signal processing section configured to perform signal processing based on a reception signal output from the reception section; and
an external interface configured to output information obtained at the signal processing section,
wherein the signal processing section:
calculates an average value and a variance value of a reception power of the reception signal,
detects the target object by use of the calculated average value and the calculated variance value, and
performs a comparison using the variance value and a square of the average value.
4. The transport apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the safety driving support operation section includes a stop operation section configured to support a stop operation of the transport apparatus based on the information output from the radar module.
5. The transport apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the safety driving support operation section includes a driving operation section configured to support a driving operation of the transport apparatus based on the information output from the radar module.
6. The transport apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the safety driving support operation section includes a warning section configured to issue a warning to a passenger or outside of the transport apparatus based on the information output from the radar module.
7. The transport apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the warning section includes a display section configured to issue a warning by indication on a display.
8. The transport apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the warning section includes a sound output section configured to issue a warning by a sound.
9. The transport apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the warning section includes an odor generation section configured to issue a warning by outputting an odor.
10. The transport apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the warning section includes a stimulation section configured to issue a warning by changing a touch on a passenger.
11. The transport apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the warning section includes a radio communication section configured to wirelessly send information representing a warning.
12. An object detection method of a radar apparatus which sends a predetermined transmission signal and receives a reflection signal generated by reflection of the transmission signal on a target object, the detection method comprising:
acquiring a reception power based on the reflection signal;
calculating an average value of the reception power;
calculating a variance value of the reception power;
detecting the target object by use of the average value, the variance value, and a square of the average value, and
determining that the target object is a human when a determination index obtained by dividing the square of the average value by the variance value is 1.
13. An object detection method of a radar apparatus which sends a predetermined transmission signal and receives a reflection signal generated by reflection of the transmission signal on a target object, the detection method comprising:
acquiring a reception power based on the reflection signal;
calculating an average value of the reception power;
calculating a variance value of the reception power; and
detecting the target object by use of the average value, the variance value, and a square of the average value, and
determining that the target object is a human when a determination index obtained by subtracting the variance value from the square of the average value is 0.